University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of General Linguistics.

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2009-03-03T13:00:22Z

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2010-06-01T09:04:49Z

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2009-03-03T13:00:22Z

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2010-06-01T09:04:49Z

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2009-03

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http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3043

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Thesis (MA (General Linguistics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.

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This thesis reports on an investigation into the possibility of first language (L1) transfer
in the initial stages of the second language (L2) acquisition of Xhosa by adolescent
beginner learners with, respectively, English and Afrikaans as their L1. Researchers in L2
acquisition are still debating about the possible transfer from learners’ L1s to their
interlanguage grammars in the initial stages of L2 acquisition. Some researchers claim
that L1 transfer does indeed occur (the Full Transfer hypothesis – see for example
Schwartz & Sprouse 1996), while others claim that L1 transfer does not occur (the No
Transfer hypothesis – see for example Clahsen & Muysken 1986). Against this
background, two tasks were designed to determine whether or not beginner learners’
performance, specifically in terms of verb placement in Xhosa, indicates that L1 transfer
occurs in the initial stages of L2 acquisition. It is argued that the results of this
investigation provide evidence in support of the Full Transfer hypothesis. Finally, the
implications of the results of this investigation for L2 teaching in a multilingual
environment are discussed.